Witnesses said the man was sitting on his surfboard about 100 yards out. He was able to paddle himself back to shore where he got help from good Samaritans until an ambulance arrived.

Dangerous Creatures

The victim, who has not been identified, suffered a 6-inch bite in the outline of a shark's jaws. He remained in the hospital Wednesday.

Maui County officials say the man later told authorities the shark had a head the size of a basketball. That description, along with the bite marks, leads Maui officials to believe that shark was between 8 to 10 feet long.

Lifeguards believe it was a reef shark.

Great White Sharks

The attack may have been captured on video because police were seen removing a mounted camera from the man's surfboard.